September 18, 2026

Bangla
Home
Sport
World
Business & Economy
Features
Others
Recent News

Their work goes on, even on May Day

About fifty dockyards stretch across a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s South Keraniganj. Thousands of workers are regularly involved in shipbreaking and repair there, carrying out demanding and hazardous physical labour. Many raise concerns about long working hours and low wages. Although their rights are discussed on May Day, there isn't much beyond symbolic celebrations. For these workers, the day holds little meaning – they know only their work. It is their labour that keeps the country’s shipping industry running.

Labourers work on building, repairing, and dismantling ships in the dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They have different complaints about working hours and wages. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Labourers work on building, repairing, and dismantling ships in the dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They have different complaints about working hours and wages. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
A worker repairs an old ship at a dockyard on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They earn between Tk 800 and Tk 1,200 per day. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
A worker repairs an old ship at a dockyard on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They earn between Tk 800 and Tk 1,200 per day. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers risk their lives cutting up old ships at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers risk their lives cutting up old ships at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers risk their lives cutting up old ships at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers risk their lives cutting up old ships at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers toil daily without any safety measures at Buriganga River dockyards in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers toil daily without any safety measures at Buriganga River dockyards in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers toil daily without any safety measures at Buriganga River dockyards in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers toil daily without any safety measures at Buriganga River dockyards in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers cut up old ships under dangerous conditions at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Keraniganj. They allege that they are not paid fair wages for this high-risk work. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers cut up old ships under dangerous conditions at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Keraniganj. They allege that they are not paid fair wages for this high-risk work. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Labourers work on building, repairing, and dismantling ships in the dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They have different complaints about working hours and wages. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Labourers work on building, repairing, and dismantling ships in the dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They have different complaints about working hours and wages. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
A worker repairs an old ship at a dockyard on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They earn between Tk 800 and Tk 1,200 per day. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
A worker repairs an old ship at a dockyard on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They earn between Tk 800 and Tk 1,200 per day. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
A worker repairs an old ship at a dockyard on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They earn between Tk 800 and Tk 1,200 per day. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
A worker repairs an old ship at a dockyard on the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. They earn between Tk 800 and Tk 1,200 per day. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers cut up old ships under dangerous conditions at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Keraniganj. They allege that they are not paid fair wages for this high-risk work. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Workers cut up old ships under dangerous conditions at dockyards along the banks of the Buriganga River in Keraniganj. They allege that they are not paid fair wages for this high-risk work. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Hundreds of new ships are built, and old ships are repaired every year in the dockyards spread over a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Hundreds of new ships are built, and old ships are repaired every year in the dockyards spread over a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Hundreds of new ships are built, and old ships are repaired every year in the dockyards spread over a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Hundreds of new ships are built, and old ships are repaired every year in the dockyards spread over a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Hundreds of new ships are built, and old ships are repaired every year in the dockyards spread over a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin
Hundreds of new ships are built, and old ships are repaired every year in the dockyards spread over a three-kilometre area along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka’s Keraniganj. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

bdnews24.com

Published : 02 May 2026, 01:57 AM

Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 06:27 PM

Read More
Qatar Airways flight faces security at Gatwick after onboard incident
Qatar Airways flight faces security at Gatwick after onboard incident
Mountain streams offer lifeline to 25,000 Rohingya in Teknaf
Mountain streams offer lifeline to 25,000 Rohingya in Teknaf
US greenlights $24.3bn Saudi fighter jet sale
US greenlights $24.3bn Saudi fighter jet sale
China presses Iran over Houthi attacks
China presses Iran over Houthi attacks
Read More
Opinion

Anamika Bhakta

Spectrum price: Will Bangladesh follow the global trend or continue on its perilous path?
Anamika Bhakta

Sabir Mustafa

From BRICS to Makkah, Bangladesh misses two buses in one week
Sabir Mustafa

Mike Dolan

AI is too big to slow in a geopolitical race: Mike Dolan
Mike Dolan

Sabir Mustafa

Hasina’s road to Dhaka strewn with doubts and danger
Sabir Mustafa
Read More